Bo Levi Mitchell took time out from celebrating to offer his condolences.

Minutes after the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ sure-handed holder Andy Fantuz failed to set the table for a snowy game-winning field goal Saturday, Mitchell had gone looking for his counterpart.

“I ran straight up to him and said, ‘Man, don’t even worry about it. Try to forget about it,’ ” said Mitchell, the holder of the Calgary Stampeders, who, because of Fantuz’s faux pas, had prevailed 34-32 at McMahon Stadium. “Obviously, it’s going to weigh on his thoughts because it’s a lost game. It’s tough — I know that.

“I kind of cringed because if it happened to me, I know how bad I’d feel. You never want to see that.”

Hamilton kicker Luca Congi had had no chance to ring up the decisive 30-yarder. Fantuz spotted the ball and it slipped off the tee. End of story.

“I had that happen to me once, where it comes off the back of the tee,” said Dave Dickenson, the Stamps’ offensive co-ordinator. “Sometimes, it’s actually hard to hold on the tee rather than on the ground because you’re trying to find a target. So when it gets snowy and slippery and all that type of stuff . . . .”

Conditions which had Mitchell fretting a tad before the game had even started.

“Because as I’m looking at the tee . . . ice can get inside the tee and clump up a little bit,” he said. “And there’s spots on there that are pretty slick. (For Fantuz), it could have been anything — a piece of ice, a piece of rubber — and he puts the ball on that spot? And the bottom comes out from under it. It’s unfortunate. But it’s football and it happens.”

What’s the key to a successful hold?

“Making sure you get both hands on it and put it down and get those laces through,” replied Mitchell. “Making sure you have the nerves for it and you’re not worried about messing up. Because if you are? You’re going to mess up.”

“Ah, I feel like it’s going on today, like it’s still going on,” said Mace, chuckling. “But a great experience.”

The Vancouver native did the works — introducing highlights, providing voice-overs, reading off the teleprompter, sticking to a script — for not only football, but for short-track speedskating and the junior hockey.

“Learning the names of all the Swedish and Russian hockey players — oh my gosh,” said Mace. “It was tough. My hat’s off to not only sports anchors, but anchors, period.”

Because the job is really much more difficult than it looks.

“Jumping in cold turkey like that? I’m just going to stick to eating and football — things that I know well,” said Mace, with a post-practice piece of fried chicken in his right mitt. “On a scale of 1 to 10, it was probably negative-4. I had a great time, but it was just terrible. Just funny.”

But is he willing to try it again?

After all, there is life after football to consider.

“I’m going to take some classes and stuff like that,” said Mace. “I’m still definitely interested. I know myself — I know I can do it. But cold turkey? It was a lot of pressure. It’s a very rapid pace. Once you lose yourself, it starts snowballing. That’s what happened. I was just out there adlibbing.”

WOUNDED REPORT

Paging Dr. Hufnagel. Paging Dr. Hufnagel.

As usual, the Stamps boss was asked to provide details about his wounded. Friday’s date against the B.C. Lions looms.

* DB Derrius Brooks (leg) — “We’ll find out more (today),” said John Hufnagel. “If we were having a regular practice (instead of a walk-through), he would have been out there experimenting. That’s where he’s at — I’m optimistic, but not real sure.”

* DL Luis Vasquez (knee) — “He’s got a little bit of a medial-collateral problem,” he said. “The MRI has not been read yet. There’s probably a partial tear. I don’t think it’s a full-blown tear. So he’ll be out for at least this game.”

* DE Stevie Baggs (quadriceps) — “He’s had his MRI done,” he said. “He won’t be ready for this game, either.”

The Stamps, for the 10th season, is teaming up with the Salvation Army for their annual Coat Drive.

Friday, when the Lions visit McMahon Stadium, fans are being asked to donate new and used coats — or cash — to provide warmth for the less fortunate. Salvation Army volunteers will be on hand to accept donations at the entrance gates.

“The winter weather makes it crucial that everyone — young and old — have access to warmth,” said QB Drew Tate, team representative for the program. “Our fans care for their community and their support of the Coat Drive shows that passion in action.”

Over the years, the initiative has paid off. More than 9,000 coats and $20,000 in cash donations have been collected.

RALPH LOOKING SOUTH

Jimmy Ralph, all-star receiver of the Calgary Colts, is currently weighing his NCAA options. After one season of junior, the plan is to commit to a school in the next four weeks, then be in classes by January.

In the meantime, Ralph, who just turned 20, will return home to Raymond to train with his brother Brock.

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